Editing Evin Prison (section)

==History==
Evin Prison was constructed in 1972 under the reign of [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]]. It is located at the foot of the [[Alborz|Alborz mountains]] on the former home of [[Ziaeddin Tabatabaee]], who briefly served as prime minister in the 1920s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shirazi |first=Saeed |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/A_CONCISE_HISTORY_OF_IRAN/wZrZDQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Ziaeddin+Tabatabai+prime+minister+in+the+1920s.+-wikipedia&pg=PA349&printsec=frontcover |title=A CONCISE HISTORY OF IRAN: From the early period to the present time |date=2017-01-06 |publisher=Ketab.com |isbn=978-1-59584-600-6 |language=en}}</ref>

The prison grounds include an execution yard, a courtroom, and separate blocks for common criminals and female inmates. It was originally operated by the Shah's security and intelligence service, [[SAVAK]]. It was initially designed to house 320 inmates—20 in solitary cells and 300 in two large communal blocks—and was expanded to hold more than 1,500 prisoners, including 100 solitary cells for political prisoners, by 1977.{{sfn|Abrahamian|1999|p=105}} On 11 February 1979, during the [[Iranian Revolution]], crowds of rebels stormed the prison and freed all the inmates.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Axworthy|first=Michael|url=|title=Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic|date=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-932227-5|location=Oxford|pages=13|oclc=854910512}}</ref>

Under the Islamic Republic of Iran, the prison population was again expanded, to 15,000 inmates. According to scholar [[Ervand Abrahamian]]:{{sfn|Abrahamian|1999|p=135}} "In theory, Evin was a detention center for those awaiting trial", after which the prisoners would be transferred to another prison, either [[Ghezel Hesar prison|Qezel Hesar]] or [[Gohardasht Prison]]. "In reality, Evin served as a regular prison, as many waited years before being brought to trial". Prominent prisoners often served their entire sentences in Evin. Executions were carried out at Evin.{{sfn|Abrahamian|1999|p=135}} Following the Islamic Revolution, Mohammad Kachouyi was made warden of Evin. After his assassination in June 1981, [[Asadollah Lajevardi]], the chief prosecutor of Tehran, served as warden until 1985.{{sfn|Abrahamian|1999|p=136}} In 1998, the [[People's Mujahedin of Iran]] assassinated Lajevardi.<ref>Ebadi, ''Iran Awakening'', (Random House New York, 2006), p. 91</ref>

The prison is located in a residential and commercial area known as [[Evin]], next to the [[Saadat Abad]] district. A large park area with a popular upscale teahouse and restaurant is immediately next to it. Photography in front of and around the prison is forbidden.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2005/nov/19/weekend7.weekend3|title=Killer images|work=The Guardian|date=2005-11-19|access-date=2010-08-27 | location=London | first=Andréa | last=Schmidt}}</ref> Prisoners from Evin and Ghezel Hesar prison are to be transferred eventually to the [[Great Tehran Penitentiary|Central Prison of Tehran]], also known as Fashafaviye or Fashafoyeh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hra-news.org/en/prisoners-face-lack-basic-facilities-central-prison-tehran|title=Prisoners Face Lack of Basic Facilities in Central Prison of Tehran|work=Hrana - News Agency|date=5 August 2015 |access-date=28 November 2015}}</ref>

Iran's judicial system is based on ''[[sharia]]'' (Islamic) law. The system is supervised by the Minister of Justice and the chief public prosecutor, appointed by the [[Supreme Leader of Iran|Supreme Leader]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-12 |title=The Iranian Judiciary: A Complex and Dysfunctional System |url=https://iranhrdc.org/the-iranian-judiciary-a-complex-and-dysfunctional-system/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Iran Human Rights Documentation Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

In April 2025, the [[European Union]] imposed sanctions on Hedayatollah Farzadi, the director of Evin Prison, as part of a broader response to Iran's detention of EU citizens. The EU accused Farzadi of being directly responsible for severe [[Human rights in Iran|human rights]] violations against political prisoners, including arbitrary solitary confinement and restrictions on communication and visitation rights. These measures were enacted amidst growing concerns over Iran's use of foreign detainees as political leverage, with Evin Prison frequently cited as a central facility in such practices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU targets Iranian prison and justice officials over arrests of its citizens |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/eu-targets-iranian-prison-justice-officials-arrests-citizens-120780302 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 14, 2025 |title=EU ministers adopt Iran sanctions over citizen detentions |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-ministers-adopt-iran-sanctions-over-citizen-detentions-2025-04-14/ |work=Reuters}}</ref>

===2022 fire===
{{main|Evin Prison fire}}
On 15 October 2022, amidst the [[Mahsa Amini protests]], a severe fire started in this prison, and the sound of security forces shooting was heard from inside the prison during numerous clashes with prisoners.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63271817|title=Evin prison fire: Gun shots and sirens heard at notorious detention centre|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=October 15, 2022|accessdate=October 15, 2022|author=Binley, Alex}}</ref> The [[Center for Human Rights in Iran]] confirmed that it had received reports that there was a "gun battle" in Evin prison on Saturday night that was continuing at 22:00 local time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Large Blaze Breaks Out And Guns Fired In Tehran's Evin Prison |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202210150132 |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=Iran International |language=en}}</ref> Videos shared on social media on Saturday showed smoke rising from the prison. Repeated gunfire, as well as anti-government chants, could also be heard in the videos.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-10-15 |title=Clashes, fire erupt at Iran's Evin Prison: State media |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/10/15/Online-videos-appear-to-show-fire-at-Iran-prison-that-holds-political-prisoners |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en}}</ref> The media affiliated to the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]] and [[Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran|the government]] reported the conflict and fire in the prison.<ref>{{Cite web |work=Fararu |date=2022-10-15 |title=(ویدئو) درگیری و آتش‌سوزی در زندان اوین |url=https://fararu.com/fa/news/580491 |access-date=2022-10-15|language=fa}}</ref> According to the Judiciary Media Center, during a fight between several prisoners in Ward 6 and Ward 7, both of which are special prisons for financial convictions and theft, the sewing workshop of the prison caught fire.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-15 |title=آخرین جزئیات از حادثه زندان اوین/ آتش‌سوزی و درگیری زندانیان |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/1401072312381/آخرین-جزئیات-از-حادثه-زندان-اوین-آتش-سوزی-و-درگیری-زندانیان |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=ایسنا |language=fa}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=جزییات ماجرای آتش سوزی زندان اوین/ منبع آگاه: زندان تحت کنترل است/ زندانیان کدام بندها با هم درگیر شدند؟- اخبار نظامی {{!}} دفاعی {{!}} امنیتی - اخبار سیاسی تسنیم  |url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1401/07/23/2788624/جزئیات-ماجرای-آتش-سوزی-زندان-اوین-منبع-آگاه-زندان-تحت-کنترل-است-زندانیان-کدام-بندها-با-هم-درگیر-شدند |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=Tasnim |language=fa}}</ref> The families of prisoners in Evin and various others gathered near the prison. Government forces used [[tear gas]] against them in response. The security forces also blocked [[Yadegar-e-Emam Expressway]] to prevent people from approaching. Anti-government slogans can be heard in videos taken around the prison.<ref>{{Citation |title=گسترش آتش‌سوزی در زندان اوین به همراه شنیده‌شدن صدای آژیر، شامگاه ۲۳ مهر |url=https://ir.voanews.com/a/evin-prison-fire-iran-tehran-emergency/6791400.html |language=fa |access-date=2022-10-15}}</ref>